After passing Daming Mansion, there were more people on the road. People who had fled during the war were gradually returning. In addition, the garrison from the three counties had returned. There were many more officers and soldiers here than before. From time to time, people with bright armor were seen on the road.
Officers and soldiers galloped past.
Among the people coming and going, in addition to ordinary people carrying things on their shoulders, there were also many people with rich clothes, tall heads, and foreign accents.
"Why are there so many outsiders?" Some people asked in confusion, "They don't look like they are fleeing."
Besides, who would flee to their place? A large army of Jin people gathered at the border of the North. Although they said they had made peace and no longer wanted to fight, it was still very scary.
"What kind of refugees?" A passerby shook his head, "How can there be any refugees dressed like this? These are all businessmen."
As long as there are people, there is business. There is nothing strange about this. It’s just that the east and west roads in Hebei Province have been very strict on businessmen for more than ten years under the rule of Duke Cheng Guo.
Of course, people can do business in the North, but Cheng Guogong strictly controls their separate registration and demarcates the business locations. Any movement between state capitals needs to be reported. As for the Tunpu border, they are not allowed to get close.
"It's different now." Someone whispered, "Uncle Qinghe said that the Northern Territory has been suffering from hardships for many years, and it is necessary to make the people rich and prosperous, so that the army and horses can be strong, so the businessmen are busy."
The people seem to understand but not understand.
"What kind of business can we do here?" Everyone shook their heads, "It's so dangerous, and we're not afraid of losing everything."
"Who knows, anyway, businessmen are most driven by profit. Since they have money to earn, they have nothing to fear." A passerby spread his hands and said, raising his head to the front, "Look at how many people are waiting in line at the checkpoint over there."
Although businessmen are allowed to move around as they please, the checkpoints are still very strict and many people have been refused and driven away.
"Master Sun, we just want to do a business, why don't you let us pass?" The rejected people asked with a sad face.
The general who was called Mr. Sun looked indifferent.
"No reason," he said.
Very good, this general looks like a veteran at first glance, and he is deeply influenced by Duke Cheng's tyrannical methods.
However, now that Duke Cheng is no longer under the rule, and Duke Cheng has also rebelled and fled into hiding, why are they so arrogant? The businessmen who were blocked outside the checkpoint did not disperse immediately and were noisy outside.
The thick fur curtains were lowered, and the noise outside was immediately cut off.
"Look, this curtain is different." A man in his fifties with thin eyebrows and a long face held the curtain and said in a thick southern accent, "It's really a good thing."
A general sitting in the room chuckled.
"A broken curtain is nothing good." He said, took a sip of tea, raised his legs and feet and put them on the table. The armor on his body made a clanking sound, and this rough movement conveyed shock.
"Master Song, don't underestimate this broken curtain. Take it to our south. You can earn ten yuan for one piece." The man said softly.
General Song laughed again.
"You also see the ten dollars?" He smiled.
"Businessmen, no matter how big or small their money is, they all take it seriously." The man said with a smile and sat down opposite General Song, "So Mr. Song, in your eyes, this northern land is barren, but in our eyes, the north is barren."
There is money everywhere."
General Song pinched his beard and groaned twice.
"I'm a soldier who doesn't understand you guys." He said, his eyes narrowed, "I only know that the place you are going to is inappropriate. There are not many broken curtains near the three counties of Xiongzhou and Bazhou in Baozhou.
, don’t you want to do business with the Jin people?”
Doing business with Jin people in the North is considered a spy, and is a serious crime that can lead to arrest and beheading.
The man did not become frightened by this threat and remained seated.
"My lord, what you said really upset me." He said with a smile, "Sir, you can fight against the Jin man without fear of life and death. Although we love money, money is nothing compared to life and death. Sir, you are not afraid of life and death in front of the Jin man."
We are not afraid of life or death, and we will never make a deal with a golden man just for a few dollars."
General Song expressed his satisfaction with the flattery and changed the position of his legs.
"It's good to know." He said, "Don't touch things you shouldn't touch just for money."
The man responded with a smile, leaned forward slightly and took out a handkerchief to sweep the non-existent dust on General Song's boots.
"Sir, these boots have really been worn for a long time." He sighed.
General Song said.
"There are so many military expenditures on clothing. The most important thing is to have enough food and weapons." He said.
The man nodded and said yes.
"Our family is in the fur business, nothing else. There are so many leather boots and leather coats." He said sincerely, "Winter is coming. I hope the adults and soldiers can wear warm clothes. There are not many, there are only two cars.
.”
He said and pointed outward.
Through the half-open window, you can see two cars parked in the yard, piled high and tightly covered with cloth.
General Song narrowed his eyes.
"Okay, then I will thank you on behalf of the soldiers." He said, raising his hand and taking out a document from his boot and flicking it, "Remember to do business honestly."
The man extended his hand to take it respectfully and bowed deeply.
"Don't worry, sir." He said sincerely, "We understand that without a stable life, we will have no business to do and no money to make."
The man withdrew respectfully, but the general did not move. Not long after, a clerk came in and whispered something into the general's ear, as if he was saying something happy. He couldn't help but laugh.
The general also smiled and glared again.
"Be reserved and look ignorant," he said.
The clerk hurriedly stopped laughing, but then burst into laughter again.
The general didn't blame him, his crossed legs swayed rhythmically.
There was a burst of chaotic footsteps outside the door, accompanied by the sound of obstruction.
"Master Sun, you can't go in."
"Master Sun, Master Song is resting."
Hearing this voice, the contentment on Mr. Song's face suddenly disappeared.
"Sir, let me go deal with him." The junior official said hurriedly.
Mr. Song kicked some cases away and strode out. A general had already pushed away the blocking soldiers and stood in the yard. He stopped when he saw Mr. Song walking out.
"Master Sun, what's going on?" Master Song asked calmly.
Lord Sun looked at him.
"Why are these traders being released to the border without permission?" he said.
"What do you mean by private release?" Mr. Song said coldly, "Now that the North is stable, people doing business are just walking around, why shouldn't they be released?"
"Now that the Jin people have penetrated deeply into our northern territory, we must strictly check the security measures to prevent spies from sneaking in." Master Sun said.
Master Song shook his head.
"I said, Xiao Sun, it's wrong for you to think like this. I'm just doing business, so how come I've become a spy?" He said, "Think about it, if you become a spy and let the Jin people make trouble in the North, they have
What's the benefit? Isn't this just asking for death? These businessmen are not stupid."
Lord Sun looked at him with a solemn expression.
"You underestimate these businessmen. They don't care about anything for money. As long as they have enough profits, they dare to seek death." He said, "Master Song, you don't understand clearly. This is a lesson we have learned through blood.
….”
Master Song's expression suddenly changed.
"I just came here? You said that I have never fought in a war or killed an enemy, so I don't know anything." He was furious and pointed at General Sun, "I tell you, surnamed Sun, that I killed gold thieves back then.
You were still sucking milk when you were pregnant, so you don’t know what the heck you are.”
Mr. Sun's face was stiff, and he walked towards the two cars parked in the yard in a few steps, and pulled off the cover before anyone could react.
Master Song and the junior officials exclaimed in surprise.
The cover was lifted to reveal the piles of leather clothes and boots piled on the car.
"What are you doing!" the clerk shouted, jumping over a few steps, "This is for the brothers to use for the winter. I remember that the brothers specially asked for it for the businessmen..."
Before he finished speaking, General Sun raised his foot and kicked him on the car.
His strength was so great that the seemingly full car was kicked to the side. With the clerk's exclamation, the car turned over with a bang, and the crackling leather boots and leather clothes fell to the ground, mixed with white things.
The eyes of everyone in the yard were dazzled.
That's...a silver brick.
The scattered leather boots and coats were filled with silver ingots and bricks.
There was silence in the yard.
"Master Song, I don't understand what this means?" General Sun looked at Master Song and said coldly, "Is it possible that the master also asked the businessman for the money to use as salary for the brothers?"
Mr. Song's complexion turned white and red, and his eyebrows suddenly rose.
"Sun, please do your job and stop meddling in other people's business," he shouted.
"Song Zhijie, do you know what you are doing? You are helping the evil tyrants, and you are trying to destroy the foundation of Beidi..." General Sun also shouted, with an angry look on his face, and pointed at General Song.
"Am I helping the tyrants to commit evil?" Mr. Song looked fierce and raised his hand, "Take it down for me!"
The dazed soldiers in the yard came to their senses and rushed forward without hesitation to hold Master Sun down.
"What do you want to do?" Master Sun shouted angrily.
"What do I want to do? I also want to ask you what you want to do?" Mr. Song's face was grim, "You and your people made it impossible for flies to pass through the checkpoints. The complaints spread everywhere. Did you inform Duke Cheng Guo and his son?
Are they avoiding arrest here?"
Sun Daren's face turned red with anger.
"It's ridiculous, it's ridiculous," he shouted, struggling.
Master Song, however, did not give up and took a step forward.
"Tell me, did Duke Cheng Guo contact you? Did he ask you to do this?" He shouted, his eyes shining, "Sun Zhan, you have been with Duke Cheng for ten years..."
"I am not someone who has been with someone for ten years. I am a person who has fought for the Great Zhou Dynasty for ten years. He is a general and I listen to him. If he is a thief, I will catch him. Song Zhijie, you are framing him!" General Sun
shouted angrily.
Lord Song looked at him condescendingly.
"Whether it's framed or not, we'll find out after an investigation." He said coldly, waved his hand, "Take it away."
Regardless of Mr. Sun's struggles, the soldiers gagged him like wolves and pushed him down.
"It's finally clean." The junior official smiled complimentarily at Lord Song, "It's better for you to be neat and tidy."
Lord Song snorted.
"When we are soldiers, we use our fists to make sense." He said, "Nowadays, whoever has a bigger fist should be unlucky if he can't see clearly."
After saying that, he looked at the silver scattered on the ground and raised his hand.
"Pack these and send them to Uncle Qinghe."
I paused when I thought of something.
"Remember to keep some for the Chinese New Year. We should suppress those who should be suppressed, and reward those who should be rewarded."
"Your Excellency is wise!" the junior official saluted happily and responded.
………..
………
The checkpoint was far behind, and the road ahead was flat. However, the driver did not urge the horse to gallop, but looked back.
"I'd rather not come through," he said.
The coachman had an old face and wore a thick hat to cover his messy hair. He looked very slovenly, but his voice was gentle and clean.
"Dad, I know what you mean." The bearded man on horseback stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "We can do it this way, and other businessmen can do it this way. They have paid so much money, so naturally they won't throw it away in vain.
It must be fished out."
As for how to make money, in the face of monetary interests, people will go crazy and don't care about the bottom line.
The coachman looked behind him with a sad look in his eyes for a moment, but he didn't sigh anymore, and instead looked at the bearded man.
"There's still no news about Miss Jun." He asked, "Maybe she's fine."
The bearded man smiled.
"Dad, you don't know that little brat." He said, "If she is safe, he will definitely let me know so that he can gloat about her misfortune. If she is in some bad condition, this kid will definitely hide it from him. He doesn't want me to be a hero and save the beauty."
.”
"Perhaps at this time he knows that you can't be a hero, and if you go, it will only cause trouble." The coachman said warmly.
The bearded man exhaled and flicked the whip in his hand.
"Heroes are brave in different places." He said, "Let's go to the place where we should go and be heroes."
Then he urged the horse to gallop.
The driver didn't say anything anymore. He raised his hand and flicked the horse. The carriage was decorated with escort flags and whistled in the wind. The people and horses in front and behind moved with it, shouting slogans. It was as lively as any caravan.